Something that has sort of been lost in the NBA’s offseason frenzy — specifically the Warriors signing Kevin Durant, meaning Harrison Barnes left the Warriors to sign with the Mavs — is the arrival (also from the Warriors) of Andrew Bogut. He comes to town because 1) the Warriors needed to make room for KD’s salary and 2) he’s friends with Barnes and the Warriors let him go to the team he preferred. I love it, so do a lot of people, but the move has been overshadowed by Barnes and the questions he brings with him. Like: Did the Mavs spend too much (maybe), can he do more than he showed in Oakland (possibly), is he permanently broken by falling apart in the Finals (who knows)?
But Bogut has wrestled back the spotlight by starring for Australia’s so-far-very-good men’s national team, with averages of almost 12 points (on over 80 percent shooting!), six boards, close to five assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, as he clears space like an offensive tackle, finds open guards like a quarterback, and even takes guys off the dribble, all while playing stellar all-court defense. And, as The Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks notes:
The way he’s playing for Australia is a preview of the role he will have for the Mavericks … With Dirk Nowitzki deep into his late 30s, and Chandler Parsons jumping ship to Memphis, there is room in Rick Carlisle’s equal-opportunity offense for Bogut to shine. Bogut turns 32 in November and is playing for one last long-term contract, so he will be looking to translate his offensive productivity in Rio back to the NBA.
